Light pollution will be ‘switched off’ across Australia thanks to a $500,000 investment from the Albanese Labor Government to reduce light pollution near threatened species’ coastal habitat.
Light pollution can prevent species such as green turtle hatchlings from reaching the ocean and short-tailed shearwater fledglings from taking their first flight. Many migratory shorebirds will also avoid roosting and feeding in areas that are artificially lit at night.
The grants will support the development of light pollution strategies and practical initiatives such as retrofitting problematic lighting across 15 priority locations.
The program is providing grants between $15,000 and $50,000 to:
- make people aware of the impacts of light pollution on wildlife
- reduce light pollution at ecologically sensitive areas to support conservation and recovery of marine turtles, seabirds and shorebirds listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and
- support local communities to ensure best-practice light management methods are identified and implemented where needed.
Applications for the program are open until Thursday 10 March 2023 for a range of eligible groups including councils, researchers, Indigenous organisations and state and territory agencies.
